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Cabinet papers - Information releases
Proactively releasing information promotes good government, openness and transparency, and fosters public trust and confidence in agencies. MSD supports the proactive release of Cabinet papers in line with the guidance set out in the Cabinet Manual and Cabinet Office Circular (18) 4.
Amendment of the Social Security Regulations 2018 is required to align with changes made by the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Act 2025, which comes into force on 2 March 2026.
These papers are regarding implementation of the Government response to the report by Dame Karen Poutasi on the Joint Review into the Children’s Sector.
These papers outline Cabinet agreement in principle to the government commitments in the draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan (Action Plan) to support informal or unpaid carers (Appendix 1) and provide further detail on the Action Plan and development. Agreement in principle is subject to the planned report-back to Cabinet in April 2026, which considers consultation feedback and advice on ongoing governance structures for the Action Plan.
These papers relate to the Social Security (Mandatory Reviews) Amendment Act that was passed in June 2025 which amends the Social Security Act 2018. This Act introduces a requirement that MSD must review a specified benefit at least once every 52 weeks.
This paper sought Cabinet agreement to publish the second Better Later Life Action Plan.
Amendment of the Social Security Regulations 2018 is required to ensure that Flexible Childcare Assistance, and Training Incentive Allowance payments can be paid directly to eligible clients as intended by the respective policy intents, rather than being paid in the Youth Money Management manner.
The paper ‘Tightening access to Jobseeker Support and Emergency Benefit for 18 and 19 year olds’ progresses decisions related to the Budget 2025 initiative to tighten eligibility of Jobseeker Support and Emergency Benefit for people aged 18 and 19 years.
A welfare programme is required to establish the Welfare that Works Bonus Payment of $1,000, intended to reward young, long-term jobseekers who enter employment and remain off a main benefit.
These papers provide an update on the Government Response to the recommendations from the report by Dame Karen Poutasi on the Joint Review into the Children’s Sector. Note that recommendations 8 and 9 in the Cabinet paper were updated in the Cabinet Social Outcomes Committee (SOU) Minute of Decision following discussions at SOU Committee.
Cabinet approval is required for the Ministry of Social Development to spend up to an additional $300,000 from MSD baselines on Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) to support the clean-up efforts from an adverse weather event in the Tasman district.
This paper sought decisions relating to the introduction of mandatory reviews for some benefits, to support implementation of Budget 2024 initiative to recognise housing contributions from all boarders in the assessment of housing subsidies.
These papers relate to the Social Assistance (Housing) Legislation Amendment Bill, which amends the Public and Community Housing Management Act 1992, the Social Security Act 2018, the Social Security Regulations 2018 and the Public and Community Housing Management (Prescribed Elements of Calculation Mechanism) Regulations 2018.
These papers relate to the Social Assistance Legislation (Accommodation Supplement and Income-related Rent) Amendment Bill, which amends the Public and Community Housing Management Act 1992, the Social Security Act 2018 and the Public and Community Housing Management (Prescribed Elements of Calculation Mechanism) Regulations 2018.